About the Journal

The Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal (NFMJ) is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and healthcare practices in Nigeria and beyond. Published biannually since its inaugural issue in 2023, NFMJ prioritizes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles spanning various medical disciplines. Its mission includes promoting open access to ensure broad dissemination of research findings. The journal welcomes original contributions from frontline doctors and healthcare professionals across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention.

The publication operates under the copyright of the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. It has ISSN number 2636-6487. Despite being a relatively new entrant in the scholarly landscape, NFMJ has maintained its promised frequency of publication, with the latest issue released in November 2023.

While currently not indexed, the journal employs a rigorous peer-review process to uphold the quality and integrity of its articles. Utilizing a double-blind review system, submissions undergo scrutiny by two expert reviewers over a two-week period. Authors receive constructive feedback aimed at enhancing the scholarly merit of their work. Ultimately, the editorial board makes the final decision regarding publication. The journal employs Grammarly as its primary plagiarism detection tool. This software scans submitted manuscripts for any instances of plagiarism by comparing the text against a vast database of academic and online sources. Additionally, the editorial team conducts manual checks to ensure the originality of the content. If plagiarism is detected, appropriate actions are taken, which may include rejection of the manuscript or requesting revisions from the authors to address the issue.

With a rejection rate of 25%, the journal maintains standards while providing opportunities for dissemination. Authors and reviewers adhere to specific guidelines, fostering a transparent and fair review process. Moreover, NFMJ operates as an open-access platform, allowing unrestricted access to its content. Given that this is an open-access journal, neither the user nor their institution will be charged for access to any of the content. The complete texts of the articles may be read, downloaded, copied, distributed, printed, searched, linked to, and used for any other permissible purpose without prior permission from the publisher or author. This fits the definition of open access provided by BOAI. Authors retain copyright, with articles licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal takes a firm stance against duplicate publication and any form of plagiarism, striving to maintain the integrity of scholarly research. As part of its editorial process, the journal routinely conducts plagiarism screenings on submitted articles to ensure the originality of the work. Authors submitting manuscripts to this journal are expected to affirm that their study has not been published elsewhere and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Proper attribution should be given for any content reused from previously published papers, and authors are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions if applicable. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will not be considered for publication. In cases where plagiarism is detected in a published paper following an internal investigation, immediate action will be taken. All authors, their affiliated institutions, and relevant funding agencies will be notified, and the paper will be retracted from publication. The journal's plagiarism policy draws inspiration from the Nature's plagiarism policy and adheres to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) definition of plagiarism.

Plagiarism is defined as the attempt to pass off someone else's work as one's own, encompassing the reuse of ideas, processes, results, or words without proper acknowledgement. Clear instances of plagiarism, such as the wholesale copying of large sections of text, result in immediate rejection of the manuscript. However, minor cases of plagiarism without dishonest intent, such as reusing parts of an introduction from a previous paper, are also addressed. Duplicate publication, also known as self-plagiarism, occurs when authors reuse significant portions of their own previously published work without appropriate references. This practice, sometimes referred to as 'text recycling', raises ethical concerns and is subject to scrutiny by editors, reviewers, and authors. The journal follows guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding text recycling, and adherence to these guidelines is strongly encouraged.

In cases of suspected minor plagiarism, authors are contacted for clarification, and final decisions regarding the manuscript are made based on thorough assessments by reviewers and editors. If a manuscript is accepted for publication, all relevant reports are published alongside the paper as part of the publication history, ensuring transparency in the peer review process. Journal editors evaluate each case of plagiarism based on its individual merits, relying on their knowledge and awareness of the literature and input from referees.

The journal's support stems from the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Notably, NFMJ boasts an extensive editorial board comprising esteemed professionals from various institutions across Nigeria. Additionally, international advisers contribute to the journal's global perspective.

For those seeking hard copies, the journal is available for purchase at 6000 Naira, approximately 5 US dollars via the Editor-In-Chief. Interested parties can contact the designated email address for further information. There are no fees associated with submitting and processing articles for publication. However, upon acceptance of an article for publication, authors are required to pay a publication fee of N60,000 or $50. This fee covers the costs associated with the final processing, formatting, and publication of the article in the journal. Furthermore, the journal's website serves as a central hub for accessing its content, reinforcing its commitment to widespread dissemination.

In "About the journal," NFMJ is identified as the official publication of the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Contact information for key personnel, including the Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and others, is provided for inquiries and submissions.

Aim:

To disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed research and clinical insights relevant to Primary healthcare and Family Medicine in Nigeria and beyond.

Scope:

NFMJ publishes original research articles, case reports, reviews, and editorials covering a wide range of medical disciplines, with a particular focus on:

Primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare: Addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by healthcare providers at all levels.
Health promotion and disease prevention: Emphasizing strategies to improve public health and reduce the burden of disease in Nigeria.
Clinical practice guidelines: Providing evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of common and emerging health conditions.
Healthcare systems research: Investigating the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria.

Open Access Policy

1. Overview

The Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal (NFMJ) is committed to advancing medical knowledge and healthcare practices by providing unrestricted access to high-quality, peer-reviewed articles. This Open Access Policy ensures that research findings are widely disseminated and accessible to all, in alignment with the principles of open access defined by the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI).

2. Open Access Definition

NFMJ operates as an open-access journal, meaning:

All content is freely available to users and institutions without subscription or registration fees.
Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, link to, or use the articles for any lawful purpose without prior permission from the publisher or author, as long as proper attribution is given.
Articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which allows for maximum dissemination and use of published research.

3. Author Rights and Copyright

Authors retain full copyright of their work published in NFMJ. By submitting an article, authors agree to license their work under CC BY 4.0, granting users the rights to share and adapt the work, provided appropriate credit is given, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.

4. Licensing Terms

The licensing terms for the use and re-use of published content are clearly stated on the NFMJ website.
NFMJ uses the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which ensures that all published content can be shared, copied, distributed, and adapted for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.
Licensing information is embedded in full-text articles and is prominently displayed on the journal’s website to ensure clarity and transparency.
NFMJ adheres to the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) recommendation to use Creative Commons licenses, ensuring broad accessibility and usability of research.

5. Copyright Terms

The copyright terms for published content are clearly defined and are distinct from those applied to the NFMJ website.
Authors retain copyright ownership of their work upon publication.
The terms of copyright are fully aligned with the journal’s open access policy and licensing terms, ensuring consistency and compliance.
The "All rights reserved" designation is never applied to open access content. Instead, all articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, promoting open and unrestricted access to research.
The NFMJ website’s copyright policy applies specifically to its design, layout, and supplementary materials but does not restrict the reuse of published articles.

6. Article Submission and Processing Fees

Submission Fees: There are no fees for submitting manuscripts to NFMJ.
Processing and Publication Fees: Upon acceptance, authors are required to pay a publication fee of N60,000 or $50. This fee supports the costs associated with article processing, formatting, and publication.

7. Access and Availability

All articles are published online and are accessible through the journal’s website.
Hard copies of the journal are available for purchase at 6000 Naira (approximately $5) through the Editor-in-Chief. Interested individuals can contact the journal’s designated email address for more information.

8. Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication Policy

NFMJ maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism and duplicate publication to uphold the integrity of scholarly research. This includes:

Routine plagiarism screenings using Grammarly and manual checks by the editorial team.
Immediate rejection of manuscripts with substantial plagiarism or uncredited reuse of another author’s work.
Addressing cases of minor plagiarism by contacting authors for clarification and requiring revisions as necessary.
Retraction of published papers found to contain plagiarism, with notifications sent to all relevant parties, including the authors’ institutions and funding agencies.
Adherence to the plagiarism guidelines of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Duplicate publication, including self-plagiarism, is discouraged. Authors are expected to provide proper attribution for reused content and disclose any related prior publications.

9. Peer Review Transparency

Submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process by two expert reviewers.
Feedback is provided to authors within two weeks, aiming to improve the scholarly merit of their work.
All relevant peer-review reports are published alongside accepted articles to ensure transparency.

10. Support and Governance

The Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria serves as the supporting institution for NFMJ. The journal benefits from an extensive editorial board of professionals from Nigerian institutions, as well as international advisers, ensuring a global perspective on medical research.

11. Contact Information

For inquiries, submissions, or purchase of hard copies, please contact the Editor-in-Chief at the provided email address available on the journal’s website.

12. Policy Updates

This Open Access Policy may be updated periodically to reflect evolving practices and technological advancements. Authors and readers are encouraged to consult the journal’s website for the most current version.

13. Licensing Terms

The use and re-use of all published content in NFMJ are governed by the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license allows unrestricted sharing, adaptation, and distribution of articles, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors, a link to the license is included, and any modifications are clearly indicated.
Licensing information is prominently displayed on the NFMJ website and embedded in full-text articles to ensure accessibility and transparency.
As recommended by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the CC BY 4.0 license maximizes the dissemination and impact of published research.